New Hill, Big Points at Whiteface Nor-Ams
From Feb. 9–12 in New York, attention shifted fully to Giant Slalom and Slalom as Nor-Am Cup points and titles went on the line. The races unfolded on a new hill at Whiteface rather than the traditional Olympic slope, and athletes welcomed the fresh challenge.
Firm, aggressive surfaces and bitter cold rewarded those who could carry speed off the top pitch and stay strong through the flat. The skiers who managed that balance separated themselves quickly.
Nelson Continues Strong Nor-Am Season
In the opening Giant Slalom, season standings leader Isaiah Nelson set the tone immediately. He led the first run by 0.79 seconds over Patrick Kenney, then backed it up to secure victory by more than a second.
Bridger Gile delivered the fastest second run of the day, climbing 14 positions to finish runner-up. Kenney rounded out an all-American podium. All three missed Olympic selection and responded with authority at Whiteface.
2/9/2026 – Whiteface Nor-Am Cup Giant Slalom #1 Results
- 1st 🇺🇸 USA – Isaiah Nelson – 2:18.07
- 2nd 🇺🇸 USA – Bridger Gile – 2:19.16 (+1.09)
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Patrick Kenney – 2:19.70 (+1.63)
- 4th (tie) 🇺🇸 USA – Cooper Puckett – 2:19.75 (+1.68)
- 4th (tie) 🇳🇴 NOR – Adrian Minde Hunshammer – 2:19.75 (+1.68)
Kenney said, “The first day was good and I was happy to be on the podium but was hoping for more to be honest. Day two was not so great as my ski popped off early onto my second run.”
Nelson Completes the GS Double
Nelson returned the next day and did it again. He controlled both runs and secured back-to-back convincing victories. Gile once again finished second, while Bradshaw Underhill held third from the first run to complete the podium.
The best Canadian was veteran Erik Read, who charged from bib 31 to finish fourth ahead of Cooper Puckett.
2/10/2026 – Whiteface Nor-Am Cup Giant Slalom #2 Results
- 1st 🇺🇸 USA – Isaiah Nelson – 2:19.18
- 2nd 🇺🇸 USA – Bridger Gile – 2:20.15 (+0.97)
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Bradshaw Underhill – 2:20.24 (+1.06)
- 4th 🇨🇦 CAN – Erik Read (1991) – 2:20.45 (+1.27)
- 5th 🇺🇸 USA – Cooper Puckett – 2:20.60 (+1.42)
After his third Nor-Am GS win of the season, Nelson said, “Conditions have been very good. The cold temps allowed for firm, dry, aggressive snow. The GS races were fun and running early was definitely fast. I’m happy with the win.”
Underhill added, “It was dry and aggressive snow on the top pitch that turned into ice on the bottom pitch. The course crew did a fantastic job working around incredibly cold conditions.”
Discussing the new track, he said, “It was incredibly important to carry speed off the top pitch. That created a great challenge for the entire field.”
Herland Breaks Through in Slalom
The slalom races shifted momentum in the overall standings.
Norway’s Johs Braathen Herland captured his first Nor-Am slalom victory in the opening race. He shared the first-run lead with Canada’s Simon Fournier before Canadian teammates Liam Wallace and Erik Read surged in the second run.
2/11/2026 – Whiteface Nor-Am Cup Slalom #1 Results
- 1st 🇳🇴 NOR – Johs Braathen Herland – 2:00.85
- 2nd 🇨🇦 CAN – Liam Wallace – 2:01.46 (+0.65)
- 3rd 🇨🇦 CAN – Erik Read (1991) – 2:01.82 (+0.97)
- 4th (tie) 🇨🇦 CAN – Simon Fournier – 2:01.95 (+1.10)
- 4th (tie) 🇺🇸 USA – Maxi Hoder – 2:01.95 (+1.10)
Herland said, “Today was a very good day. Slalom has not been my best discipline the last three years, so it was cool to put down two good runs in a field with very fast skiers.”
Wallace said, “It was the second race series back for me after a shoulder injury in early December. Whiteface was a solid way to build back.”
“I think it is a bit of a shift in mindset if you want to be successful at Nor-Ams — it is different. It took me a day to figure that out before I finally started putting some runs together and some good skiing.”- Erik Read on coming back to the Nor-Am circuit.
Herland Does the Slalom Double
Herland returned the next day and raised the bar again. He led the first run by more than 1.2 seconds ahead of Benjamin Ritchie and refused to give ground in run two.
Three-time World Cup winner Ramon Zenhäusern produced the fastest second run but missed the podium by five hundredths. Americans Maxi Hoder and Jevin Palmquist secured second and third, marking their second Nor-Am podiums of the season.
2/12/2026 – Whiteface Nor-Am Cup Slalom #2 Results
- 1st 🇳🇴 NOR – Johs Braathen Herland – 2:04.98
- 2nd 🇺🇸 USA – Maxi Hoder – 2:06.70 (+1.72)
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Jevin Palmquist – 2:06.72 (+1.74)
- 4th 🇨🇭 SUI – Ramon Zenhäusern (1992) – 2:06.77 (+1.79)
- 5th 🇺🇸 USA – Benjamin Ritchie (2000) – 2:07.18 (+2.18)
Herland said, “Scoring back-to-back 15.00 points in slalom was awesome. I went all in on the second run. The Whiteface race week was very good and they prepared really good conditions all week.”
Hoder said, “I’m happy with the result and completed my goal for the series of a podium.”
Palmquist said, “I thought overall it was a good series. First day started out just where I wanted to be, besides a big mistake on the second run I thought I skied well. I was glad to put 2 solid runs down on the second day. Being on the Nor/Am podium was something I’ve come close to this year, and it felt good to finally achieve that. This gave me the confidence I needed to move into the last part of the season.”
2025/26 Nor-Am Cup Standings
Overall (After 17/26 Races)
- 1st 🇳🇴 NOR – Johs Braathen Herland – 809 pts
- 2nd 🇺🇸 USA – Isaiah Nelson – −207
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Bradshaw Underhill – −322
- 4th 🇨🇦 CAN – Simon Fournier – −388
- 5th 🇺🇸 USA – Cooper Puckett – −487
- 6th 🇳🇴 NOR – Filip Wahlqvist – −538
- 7th 🇸🇪 SWE – Felix Monsén (1994) – −549
- 8th 🇺🇸 USA – Maxi Hoder – −563
Giant Slalom (After 6 Races)
- 1st 🇳🇴 NOR – Johs Braathen Herland – 411 pts
- 2nd 🇺🇸 USA – Isaiah Nelson – −111
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Bradshaw Underhill – −220
- 4th 🇳🇴 NOR – Adrian Minde Hunshammer – −235
- 5th 🇨🇦 CAN – Simon Fournier – −244
Slalom (After 6 Races)
- 1st 🇳🇴 NOR – Johs Braathen Herland – 262 pts
- 2nd 🇨🇦 CAN – Simon Fournier – −8
- 3rd 🇺🇸 USA – Maxi Hoder – −16
- 4th 🇳🇴 NOR – Filip Wahlqvist – −62
- 5th 🇭🇷 CRO – Matej Vidović (1993) – −66
Looking Ahead
Herland now controls both technical disciplines and the overall title race. He has positioned himself to leave the Nor-Am season with multiple trophies.
Slalom remains tight. Nine athletes sit within 103 points with two races remaining.
The tour heads to Aspen Highlands March 19–26 for the Nor-Am Finals. Two races in each discipline will decide continental titles — and, more importantly, next season’s World Cup opportunities.
The margins are small. The pressure is rising. And in Colorado, every turn will matter.
About the Author: Matt Garcka
